在2023年9月11日，正值美國911恐怖攻擊事件的22週年紀念日，紐約市上空出現了一道光彩奪目的雙彩虹。這座城市是先前遭到襲擊的世貿雙塔所在地，在事件中蒙受最大的損失，傷亡慘重。二十多年後，這道雙彩虹對在場所有看到的人來說，象徵希望和安慰。有一段拍攝雙彩虹的短片顯示，那道彩虹彷彿就像出自於世貿中心遺址。

自從挪亞時代以來，天上的彩虹便成為上帝信實的確據。那時，上帝因為人類犯罪而用洪水毀滅世界之後，設立了絢麗的彩虹作為記號，記念祂「與地上各樣有血肉的活物所立的永約」（創世記9章16節）。挪亞和他的家人在方舟上，經過四十天烏雲密布的傾盆大雨，以及好幾個月的洪水氾濫（7章17-24節），可想而知，他們肯定非常高興看見彩虹這「立約的記號」（9章12-13節）。上帝藉著彩虹提醒我們祂的信實，祂說：「凡有生命的必不再被洪水除滅，再沒有洪水來毀滅大地了。」（11節，新譯本）

當我們面臨黑暗的日子或遭遇不幸，不管是因為自然災害、身體狀況不佳、心理創傷還是病痛折磨，讓我們在這些景況中仰望上帝，尋求盼望。即使在那時候我們看不見象徵上帝信實的彩虹，卻仍然可以相信祂會持守祂的應許。

On September 11, 2023—the twenty-second anniversary of the attacks against the United States—a stunning double rainbow graced the skies above New York City. Home to the former Twin Towers, this city suffered the greatest losses in the attacks. More than two decades later, the double rainbow brought a sense of hope and healing to those who were there to see it. A video clip of the moment seemed to capture the rainbows emanating from the site of the World Trade Center itself.

Rainbows in the sky have brought an assurance of God’s faithfulness since the days of Noah. In the wake of God’s judgment of sin which resulted in unimaginable destruction, He set the colorful beacon as a visual reminder of “the everlasting covenant between [Himself] and all living creatures” (Genesis 9:16). After forty dark days of rain and months of flooding (7:17-24), one can only imagine how welcome the rainbow—“the sign of the covenant”—must have been to Noah and his family (9:12-13). It was a reminder of God’s faithfulness that “never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth” (v. 11). 

When we face dark days and tragic losses—whether due to natural disaster, physical or emotional pain, or the plight of disease—let’s look to God for hope in the midst of it. Even if we don’t catch a glimpse of His rainbow in those moments, we can be assured of His faithfulness to His promises.